Shoe-last.



onirnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRVING A. (3001:, or LANCASTER, 01:10.

SHQE-LAST.

To all whom it may concern:

in the parts,

Be it known that I, IRvINo A. Coon, a

citizen of the United States.- residing at Lancaster, in the county of Fairfield and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Lasts, of

WhICll the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to shoe lasts, and particularly to lasts of that type having separate fore and heel sections which are connected together by a hinge member to allow the heel section to swing .upon the fore section so that the last may be easily inserted 1n and removed from a shoe to which it may be applied.

The particular objects of the present invention are to improve the hinge construction, and also to provide an improved latch device by which the sections are locked when the last is straightened. The latch is so constructed that it will take up any wear position even after extended use of the last.

Other novelties and advantages in the details of the construction will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in whichstraight position.

Flgure l is a sectional view of the last in Fig. 2 is a similar view in flexed or broken position. Fig. 3 is a .top view of the last. Fig. 4 is a perspective view'of the latch member. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the latch bushing.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 indicates the fore part of the last and T the heel part. These sections or parts meet or match on segmental lines, the meeting ends of the sections being cut to form upper and lower segmental faces 8 and 9 between which is a shoulder at 10. These segmental faces are cut on the pivot pin 11 as a center, the radius of the face 9 being greater than that of the face 8, so as to form the shoulder 10 referred to, and the corresponding shoulder of the heel section stops against the shoulderv of the fore section when the last is straightened as'in use. i

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed April 1, 1910, Serial No. 552,808. Renewed October tion of the last, forming and hold the sections in rigid.

PatentedMar. 5, 1912. 7, 1911. Serial No. 653,452.

together, and eliminating any strain which might otherwise come on the hinge when in use. The rear part of the hinge member extends upwardly as at 15', at an angle to the arm 13, and said rear suitable kerf or slot in the heel. section by means of rivets 16, at upper and lower ends respeetively. v y

The rear upwardly extending arm 15 of the hinge member is of proper width, and is so located, as to extend across or lap the joint between the and heel parts, and in orderto accommodate or receive the front edge of this arm, when the last is broken, a groove 17 is cut in the upper part of the rear end of the fore seca continuation or extension of the slot 12 in which the hinge works. The hinge fits at a working fit in the slots 12 and 17, and so the fore and heel sections are maintained in proper alinement, particularly by reason of the breadth of the hinge member, the arm 15 lapping or extending across the joint throughoutits whole vertical length.

The upper end of the arm 15 is beveled or inclined as at 18, and this inclined edge is engaged by the latch which consists of a flat piece of metal 19 having a beveled face or head 20 at its outer end, and provided also with an upwardly projecting finger piece 21 ,at said end, whereby it may be pushed in to unlock the parts when desired. This latch member works in a bushing 22, consisting of a tubular piece of metal fastened inan appropriate recess in the rear end of the fore part of the last. The outer end of this bushing extends across the groove 17, but said end is notched as shown at 23 to allow the finger piece 21 to be pushed in when the latch is released, and also to allow the passage of'the edge of the hinge arm lowhen the last is broken. spring 24 normally projects the latch member to engage the hingemember and lock the parts when the last is straightened. At the end of the groove 17 is a stop piece 25, of metal, against which the end of the arm 15 stops, as shown in Fig. 2, when the last is flexed.

The tapered end'20 of. the latch member takes up any play in the parts which may be caused by the wear when in use, and at all times holds the heel down to the position part is fastened in a permitted or controlled by the shoulder 10,

the pressure of the latch being toward or in opposition. to said shoulder. H When the lastis to be flexed, the latch is pushed in by pressure on the finger piece 21 until the of the hinge member holds the last parts in rigid position with respect to each other, irrespective'of any Wear.

\Vhat I claim as new is 1. A last comprising fore and heel sections, the fore section havin a slot in its rear end and a groove extenc ing upwardly from said slot, a hinge connecting said sections, said hinge having .a forwardly extending arm pivoted in the slot and an upwardly projecting arm fixed to the heel section and sliding in said groove, and a sliding catch mounted on the fore section and Working across said grove and engaging the upper end of said arm Whenthe last is straightened.

tending arm c'lined, and a spring 2. A' last comprising fore and heel sections, a hinge member connecting said sections, said member having an upwardly exforvvardly extending arm pivoted at its "frontend to the fore section, the upper edge extending .arm being inlatch member mounted the rear ofthe said of said upwardly on the fore section'to pivot and having a beveled face engaging said edge when the last straightened.-

Y 3. A last comprising a fore section having a slot in its rear end and a groove extending I upwardly from said slot, a'heel section, and

a hinge member connecting said sections, saidhinge member having a forwardly extending arm working in said slot and pivoted to the fore section, and an upwardly extending arm fixed to the heel section and working in said groove.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in; presence of two witnesses.

. IRVING A. COOK.

Witnesses:

WM. G. PAIRAN, GEO. B. OLDER.

fixed to the heel section, and a 

